Build a DIY Recycled Antenna (To Get Free T.V!)

Step 7 Congratulations

Now you've finished your own CANtenna. If you used all recycled parts you probably didn't spend any money and now have free T.V. Enjoy it!

If you have any troubles, want to say anything good, or pretty much anything at all, just leave a comment. Feedback is always appreciated.

Also, if you like my 'ible you could always give it a vote in the Epilog contest.

Thank you and have fun with your Free T.V!

Comments

[Luckie_Steve]

Free until DTV takes over??? do you even know what you are talking about at all lilshawn... not trying to be mean or anything but frankly you don't have a clue and you shouldn't knock something till you have at the very least tried it!! I built this antenna as described, but my can of choice was a coke can lol, and on my DIGITAL receiver with a couple of small positional tweaks to find the sweet spot i now receive all 25 local digital channels with no problems at all :D and i havent gone all fancy like you did soldering it together :P I simply bared 4cm of wire on the connecting ends, poked a couple of small holes in the base sections of each half of the can and looped it through and twisted it tight (It's worth noting that all cans for health and safety reasons have a thin protective coating that is non conductive and a light scratching or sanding should be applied to the area of connection to ensure maximum conductivity). Now im just mad at myself for spending $30 on an antenna with built in signal amplifier that struggled to find 18 channels...

[aquarian_xxx]

will this help me with analog channels?

[pyrojunky]

this may all be true about police and emergency services needing more analog space, that is fine. my beef is if the government is doing this then they should also insist that cable and satellite providers provide everyone with "free" local broadcast channels at no cost. as it sits presently i have been thru 4 converter boxes 5 different types of antennas (including the ones i was previously using with no problems) and i still can not get even half of the channels i did prior to the switch. this is why i am now looking for alternate forms of antennas on here. i don't feel its right for me to have to pay for something that i was getting and should still be getting for free. i don't watch much tv as it is and did not benefit from cable that is why i did not and do not have it

[mce128]

I know this is a reply to an old post, but may be useful... alot of cable companies offer what is often called "antenna Service." You usually have to haruange them a bit to even admit it exists because they want to sell you something, but you can usually get it. Also, it's not uncommon for the antenna service just to be there if you hook the cable up to your telelvision. I don't know if this still applies in the age of digital tv, but it used to. just some food for thought

[thebriguy]

I don't think TV is a right - but I hear your frustration. I think the reception is up to the individual, so it's your responsibility.
Also, some areas have old laws w/ cable that requires basic local channels w/ basic service. Around us it costs about $15 a month for local + about 100 channels of infomercials ;-)
I'm happy with the HDTV over the air so far - some adjustments, but it's kind of fun. I don't have cable. Would rather not pay for TV. What I get free is enough of a time waster, along w/ the net...

[spa31rky]

"thebriguy"........................good response........well put

[xtoddx]

So my coaxial cable only has one wire. Then I noticed in your photo that the wires connect to the soda can seem to be altogether different wires, yes? Did you forget to include them in yr. materials list? What kind of wires did you use to connect the can to the coaxial cable?

[spa31rky]

Sorry if I sound a bit off here but.......................Co Ax has 2 wires.......Center than remove foil and you will see braided wire.......Hince........2 wires.........see it yet?

[thebriguy]

Coax has 2 'Wires' - one fat one in the middle and one flat one that looks like shielding around the outside.

[thebriguy]

Actually, the 2nd 'wire' is the fuzzy thin wire right next to what is the shielding.

[ronmaggi]

If it only has one wire than it is not coaxial. Perlaps you picked up some gto 15 wire. it looks like coax, but is just a 14 guage wire with LOTS of insulation used for SSB antennas.

[Cymbalta]

Down here on the LI - NYC border, I now receive an additional 21 stations. And a free education as 18 are Spanish, 1 Korean and one "Faith"
Spanish TV has the largest viewership in many of the states, so now we can be better prepared for our countries future merger. SSI is a done deal. 

[lilshawn]

FIRST FAIL well...free t.v. until the DTV "takeover" in a few months. please note, i have cable and am not affected by the DTV "takeover" please also note that i use the word "takeover" because i feel there is no reason to change to DTV anyways.

[froggyman]

but a digital signal is more effiecient then the old analog siganl for several reasons: 1. You can broadcast many channels in a lesser range of frequency. 2. it frees up stations for emergecy veichles. 3. The signal is clearer and has a larger range for a lower amount of energy output

[MillenniumMan]

No, DTV is crap. During the good old analog days, I was able to receive stations out in DC, Southern VA and as far as WWOR in NYC, I live off APG in MD if that helps you any. Sure, there was static, but at least I was able to get some serious TV time. Now, I can barely get CW 54 and WMAR. I wound up missing House, CSI(pick your flavor) Jay Leno's last show. When I can get a signal, it's like my tv is having a seizure with all the erhh.gg.err... thhh...z zzz.... sounds and f***ing BLOCKS! GAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIE TV! *WHACK!*

[Gjdj3]

I don't understand the "FAIL" that you mention. There are also 2 other problems with your comment. 1st. You can still get free T.V. after the switch over. You can apply for a coupon to get a free converter box. The T.V. would still be free. 2nd. Regardless of what you may feel, there are reasons to switch over to DTV. For example, government funded agencies like Fire and Police departments need the extra analog space for their broadcasts. That's just one good reason to switch over. Please, next time leave a constructive comment.

[osgeld]

"free converter box" after my 2 coupons i was left with a 50$ hole in my pockets oh not to mention i now need new antennas so i can get pbs back i think the whole thing was dumb too, if i cared that much about digital picture and hdtv, i would not have rabbit ears good instrtuctable btw

[Gjdj3]

Yeah, I finally went to go get a converter box. It was 60 bucks for one! Why is there only a 40 dollar coupon?

[lilshawn]

government funded agencies like Fire and Police departments need the extra analog space for their broadcasts? most government funded agencies like Fire and Police departments have been using digital transmitters and receivers for a number of years now. although still using an "analog" frequency, the information is transmitted digitally, thus you are able to "share" the bandwidth with many different units. you can even have direct communications between units, as they all have a unique ID. i feel the government wishes (and has done so in the past) to sell off the frequencies to the highest bidder and make money off it. i guess i don't understand why in this day and age of computers and technology why people would watch television with a set of "rabbit ears" when you can watch tv on your computer now.